To really find earth like planets, you have to look for double planet systems like our earth moon. In principle I would think that a Kepler type telescope would be able to find such double planet systems because the amount of dimming of the star would change as the planet transits. I don't think Kepler....which is no longer operationally capable of completing its primary mission....was operative long enough to collect enough data to find double planets.

To really find earth like planets, you have to look for double planet systems like our earth moon. In principle I would think that a Kepler type telescope would be able to find such double planet systems because the amount of dimming of the star would change as the planet transits. I don't think Kepler....which is no longer operationally capable of completing its primary mission....was operative long enough to collect enough data to find double planets.

(10-11-2013 02:51 AM)Heywood Jahblome Wrote: To really find earth like planets, you have to look for double planet systems like our earth moon. In principle I would think that a Kepler type telescope would be able to find such double planet systems because the amount of dimming of the star would change as the planet transits. I don't think Kepler....which is no longer operationally capable of completing its primary mission....was operative long enough to collect enough data to find double planets.

The mission lasted as long as it was designed too so the fact that critical components have now failed is not entirely unexpected. With Kepler, in terms of longevity of the mission, we got exactly what we were sold. No need to be angry or disappointed. Like every mission, there is a limit to the scope and this one didn't fall short of it.....it just didn't exceed it.